DOCSLIB.ORG

Captain James Cook Reading Comprehension

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Captain James Cook Reading Comprehension Captain James Cook James Cook was born in Marton-in-Cleveland, England on the 7th November 1728. His father was a farm worker. At the age of 18, he became a merchant sailor. He soon changed to the navy and began a successful career. First Voyage In 1768, Cook became the commander of a voyage to the Pacific. Cook's ship was called the Endeavour. His first job was to sail to Tahiti and observe the planet Venus pass in front of the Sun. He was also given an envelope with secret instructions. The instructions told him to find New Holland (Australia). Also on board were astronomer Charles Green and botanist Joseph Banks. After Tahiti, Cook first visited New Zealand then New Holland. Cook Arrives in Australia He first stopped at Botany Bay, where he studied the animals, plants and local people. He then sailed up the coast. Unfortunately, while he was travelling near the Great Barrier Reef, his ship was damaged by the coral reef. Once his ship was repaired, he sailed to Cape York. At Cape York, he claimed New Holland to be part of the British Empire. Cook and his crew returned to England in 1771. Later Voyages Cook went on two more voyages. In 1772, he sailed farther south than any other human in history at that time. He also visited Easter Island. In 1776, he tried to sail around the top of North America to Asia. This was called the Northwest Passage. He was unsuccessful. Instead, he sailed on to Hawaii. In Hawaii, Cook and his men got along with the local people at first. Then someone stole one of Cook’s boats. To get it back, he kidnapped a chief. The local people attacked and Cook was killed. Page 1 of 2 visit twinkl.com.au Captain James Cook Questions 1. Where was Captain James Cook born? Tick one. Australia England New Zealand 2. How old was he when he became a merchant sailor? Tick one. 18 19 20 3. What was the name of Cook’s ship? Tick one. Endeavour Adventure Enterprise 4. Where was Cook killed? Tick one. England Easter Island Hawaii 5. Fill in the missing words in the sentence below. After Tahiti, Cook first visited then . 6. What island did Cook visit in 1772? 7. Why was Cook killed? visit twinkl.com.au Page 2 of 2 Captain James Cook Answers 1. Where was Captain James Cook born? Tick one. Australia England New Zealand 2. How old was he when he became a merchant sailor? Tick one. 18 19 20 3. What was the name of Cook’s ship? Tick one. Endeavour Adventure Enterprise 4. Where was Cook killed? Tick one. England Easter Island Hawaii 5. Fill in the missing words in the sentence below. After Tahiti, Cook first visitedNew Zealand then New Holland. 6. What island did Cook visit in 1772? Cook visited Easter Island in 1772. 7. Why was Cook killed? Cook was killed because he kidnapped a chief. The local people attacked and Cook was killed. visit twinkl.com.au Captain James Cook Captain James Cook was born in Yorkshire, England on the 7th November 1728. His father was a farm labourer. At the age of 18, however, he chose to join the merchant navy instead of following in his father’s footsteps. Later, he joined the navy and rapidly rose through the ranks. First Voyage In 1768, Cook was made the commander of a ship called the Endeavour. His job was to sail to Tahiti. His task was to take scientific observations of a rare astronomical event. Before he left, he was given secret instructions in an envelope. The instructions told him to explore the land known as New Holland (Australia). The astronomer Charles Green and botanist Joseph Banks were also on board the Endeavour. After successfully reaching Tahiti, Cook continued to sail west. First, he reached New Zealand, where he mapped the main islands. The crew spotted New Holland for the first time in April. Cook arrived at Botany Bay ten days later. While he was here, he studied the plants and animals and observed the local people. He sailed north up the coast of New Holland after leaving Botany Bay. Unfortunately, coral on the Great Barrier Reef damaged his ship, and he had to stop for repairs. He sailed on and eventually reached Cape York. While he was there, he claimed New Holland was now part of the British Empire. After this, he and his crew returned to England in 1771. Later Voyages Cook would take part in two later explorations. In 1772, he sailed farther south than any other human in history. He also visited Easter Island for the first time. In 1776, he set out to find a route around the top of North America to Asia. This route was called the Northwest Passage. Unfortunately, he was unsuccessful. Undeterred, he sailed to Hawaii. At first, he had good relations with the local people. However, a conflict happened when some locals stole a boat. Cook was killed by a stab wound during a fight about the boat. Page 1 of 3 visit twinkl.com.au Captain James Cook Questions 1. What did Cook join at the age of 18? merchant navy the army a farming community 2. Draw a line to complete the sentences. Cook was made the commander In Hawaii, of a ship called the Endeavour. were also on board the In 1768, Endeavour. The astronomer Charles Green and botanist Cook was killed. Joseph Banks 3. Why did Cook sail to Tahiti? He was sent to claim it for the British Empire. He was sent to observe a rare astronomical event. He was ordered to study the plants, animals and people. 4. What did Cook do after he tried to sail through the Northwest Passage? He visited New Zealand. He sailed to Hawaii. He sailed to Easter Island. 5. What was the name of Cook’s ship? 6. What were Cook’s secret instructions? visit twinkl.com.au Page 2 of 3 Captain James Cook 7. What events led to Cook’s death in Hawaii? 8. Do you think Cook was an important explorer? Use ideas from the text to explain your answer. visit twinkl.com.au Page 3 of 3 Captain James Cook Answers 1. What did Cook join at the age of 18? merchant navy the army a farming community 2. Draw a line to complete the sentences. Cook was made the commander In Hawaii, of a ship called the Endeavour. were also on board the In 1768, Endeavour. The astronomer Charles Green and botanist Cook was killed. Joseph Banks 3. Why did Cook sail to Tahiti? He was sent to claim it for the British Empire. He was sent to observe a rare astronomical event. He was ordered to study the plants, animals and people. 4. What did Cook do after he tried to sail through the Northwest Passage? He visited New Zealand. He sailed to Hawaii. He sailed to Easter Island. 5. What was the name of Cook’s ship? Cook’s ship was called the Endeavour 6. What were Cook’s secret instructions? The instructions told him to explore the land known as New Holland (Australia). visit twinkl.com.au Captain James Cook 7. What events led to Cook’s death in Hawaii? A conflict happened when some locals stole a boat. Cook was killed by a stab wound during the battle. 8. Do you think Cook was an important explorer? Use ideas from the text to explain your answer. Answers will vary, for example: I think Cook was an important explorer because he was one of the first Europeans to explore Australia. visit twinkl.com.au Captain James Cook James Cook was an Englishman born on the 7th November 1728 in a small village near Middlesbrough in Yorkshire. At the age of 18, he joined the merchant navy then he later switched to the navy. He rapidly rose through the navy ranks and, in 1768, he was made the commander of a ship called the Endeavour. Cook was told to sail to Tahiti to observe the transit of the planet Venus in front of the Sun, a rare event visible only in the southern hemisphere. At the same time, however, he was given some secret instructions in an envelope that told him to explore the uncharted New Holland, the country known today as Australia. Also on board the Endeavour were the astronomer Charles Green and the botanist Joseph Banks. The crew of the Endeavour continued to sail farther west after their work in Tahiti. Cook reached New Zealand, where he circumnavigated the islands. On 19th April 1770, the crew glimpsed New Holland. On 29th April 1770, the expedition party landed at Botany Bay. He collected plants and flowers, and he observed the Indigenous Australians. He then travelled farther north along the coast; however, his ship was damaged by coral on the Great Barrier Reef. After a brief stay, his ship received repairs, and he continued towards Cape York - the northernmost point in Australia. Cook claimed Australia to be part of the British Empire. He based his decision on a European understanding of land ownership. He could not see any fences, buildings or other features that would indicate land ownership. As a result, he assumed that the land did not belong to anyone and he could claim it for Great Britain. After a brief stay in Jakarta, Cook and his crew returned home. They arrived in Britain in July 1771 to great acclaim. Cook would embark on two further voyages of exploration.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Death of Captain Cook in Theatre 224
    The Many Deaths of Captain Cook A Study in Metropolitan Mass Culture, 1780-1810 Ruth Scobie PhD University of York Department of English April 2013 i Ruth Scobie The Many Deaths of Captain Cook Abstract This thesis traces metropolitan representations, between 1780 and 1810, of the violent death of Captain James Cook at Kealakekua Bay in Hawaii. It takes an interdisciplinary approach to these representations, in order to show how the interlinked texts of a nascent commercial culture initiated the creation of a colonial character, identified by Epeli Hau’ofa as the looming “ghost of Captain Cook.” The introduction sets out the circumstances of Cook’s death and existing metropolitan reputation in 1779. It situates the figure of Cook within contemporary mechanisms of ‘celebrity,’ related to notions of mass metropolitan culture. It argues that previous accounts of Cook’s fame have tended to overemphasise the immediacy and unanimity with which the dead Cook was adopted as an imperialist hero; with the result that the role of the scene within colonialist histories can appear inevitable, even natural. In response, I show that a contested mythology around Cook’s death was gradually constructed over the three decades after the incident took place, and was the contingent product of a range of texts, places, events, and individuals. The first section examines responses to the news of Cook’s death in January 1780, focusing on the way that the story was mediated by, first, its status as ‘news,’ created by newspapers; and second, the effects on Londoners of the Gordon riots in June of the same year.
    [Show full text]
  • Read Book Captain James Cook Ebook
    CAPTAIN JAMES COOK PDF, EPUB, EBOOK Rob Mundle | 432 pages | 13 Mar 2018 | ABC Books | 9780733335433 | English | Sydney, Australia Captain James Cook PDF Book Service in North America proved to be the making of Cook. Matt Rosenberg. Navy captain who made several historic space flights from , including trips orbiting the moon and commanding the famous Apollo 13 mission. By this point I was begging Hough to include one of these anecdotes to liven up the prose. NASA named spacecraft after his ships. Provoked by trigger happy shipmen, the locals attacked and Cook was killed on the beach, his body taken away. In the navy he participated in the conquest of Canada during which he was taught the rudiments of surveying- one of the curiosities of the time was that training seems to have been effectively by means of apprenticeship and an officer's skills derived from those he had served with. He charted New Zealand with astonishing accuracy, making just two mistakes, before moving on to what we now know to be the eastern coast of Australia. I would heavily recommend this to anyone. I learned a great deal about James Cook reading this informative biography. Stay at home, and ensure your safety…. In Cook was back in England, where he married Elizabeth Batts. The reader also witness the transition of Cook's frame of mind from his first to his last main voyage and get an idea as to what was going on in the Great Sailor's mind. Take a minute to check out all the enhancements! While docked for repairs in Hawaii in February , Cook became enraged after a group of natives stole a cutter ship from one of his boats.
    [Show full text]
  • DAVID SAMWELL Journal, 1776-79 Reel M1583
    AUSTRALIAN JOINT COPYING PROJECT DAVID SAMWELL Journal, 1776-79 Reel M1583 The British Library Great Russell Street London WC1B 3DG National Library of Australia State Library of New South Wales Filmed: 1982 BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE David Samwell (1751-1798) was born in Nantglyn in north Wales, where his father was the vicar. He was educated at one of the local grammar schools, probably Ruthin. In 1775 he gained his certificate as a second mate from the Court of Examiners at the Royal College of Surgeons. He was apprenticed to John Crosier, who had been surgeon on HMS Dolphin on its Pacific voyage in 1764-66. In 1776 Crosier secured Samwell’s appointment as surgeon’s mate on HMS Resolution, commanded by James Cook. Following the death of the Surgeon William Anderson in August 1778, Cook promoted Samwell to the position of surgeon on HMS Discovery, commanded by Charles Clerke. Both Cook and Clerke died in 1779 and Lieutenant James King commanded HMS Discovery on the return voyage to England in 1780. Samwell served under King on HMS Crocodile in 1780-81 and later on HMS Kite. He retired on half- pay in 1786 and established a medical practice in London. He had provided some assistance to King on the publication of the official account of Cook’s third voyage. In 1786, encouraged by Andrew Kippis, he published A narrative of the death of Captain James Cook, much of which was incorporated in the major biography published by Kippis in 1788. Samwell returned to sea in 1793 on the outbreak of war with France and served on HMS Marlborough and HMS Unicorn.
    [Show full text]
  • Key Facts Francis Drake
    Year 2: History Who was the most significant explorer James Cook or Frances Drake? Autumn 1 Key Dates Key Facts Francis Drake Key Facts James Cook Francis Drake 1 Francis Drake was best known as the 1 James Cook was best known for 1540- Francis Drake was born between first Englishman to sail around the exploring the South Pacific. 1544 1540-1544. world and defeat the Spanish Armada. 1577 Queen Elizabeth asked Francis He went to work for a sea captain at a 2 At around the of 18 he took on an Drake to travel around the world. young age. apprenticeship as a merchant seaman. 2 Drake's first expedition was with John 1580 After sailing for 3 years, the ship He then enlisted in the Royal Navy at Hawkins. He captained the ship Judith, arrived back home in England. the start of a seven year war. one of six ships that made up the fleet. 1596 Francis Drake died in Portobelo, 3 During the war he became a master at Then they sailed across the Atlantic to Panama. mapping. His ability at surveying, the New World. They sold the slaves at James Cook navigating and creating maps was a Spanish port. 1728 James Cook was born in Marton, noticed by those high up in the navy. th Yorkshire, England on 7 3 He took up the life of a privateer. As a 4 Cook was given command of a cat- November 1728. privateer, he would attack the enemy collier type ship called the Endeavor. ships of Britain, mostly the Spanish, and 1736 His family move to Great Ayton.
    [Show full text]
  • Public Information Leaflet HISTORY.Indd
    British Antarctic Survey History The United Kingdom has a long and distinguished record of scientific exploration in Antarctica. Before the creation of the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), there were many surveying and scientific expeditions that laid the foundations for modern polar science. These ranged from Captain Cook’s naval voyages of the 18th century, to the famous expeditions led by Scott and Shackleton, to a secret wartime operation to secure British interests in Antarctica. Today, BAS is a world leader in polar science, maintaining the UK’s long history of Antarctic discovery and scientific endeavour. The early years Britain’s interests in Antarctica started with the first circumnavigation of the Antarctic continent by Captain James Cook during his voyage of 1772-75. Cook sailed his two ships, HMS Resolution and HMS Adventure, into the pack ice reaching as far as 71°10' south and crossing the Antarctic Circle for the first time. He discovered South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands although he did not set eyes on the Antarctic continent itself. His reports of fur seals led many sealers from Britain and the United States to head to the Antarctic to begin a long and unsustainable exploitation of the Southern Ocean. Image: Unloading cargo for the construction of ‘Base A’ on Goudier Island, Antarctic Peninsula (1944). During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, interest in Antarctica was largely focused on the exploitation of its surrounding waters by sealers and whalers. The discovery of the South Shetland Islands is attributed to Captain William Smith who was blown off course when sailing around Cape Horn in 1819.
    [Show full text]
  • THE BRITISH LIBRARY Pacific Journals and Logs, 1664-1833 Reels M1559-74
    AUSTRALIAN JOINT COPYING PROJECT THE BRITISH LIBRARY Pacific journals and logs, 1664-1833 Reels M1559-74 The British Library Great Russell Street London WC1B 3DG National Library of Australia State Library of New South Wales Filmed: 1982 CONTENTS Page 3 Bartholomew Verwey, 1664-67 3 Samuel Wallis, HMS Dolphin, 1766-67 3 HMS Endeavour, 1768-71 4 Tobias Furneaux, HMS Adventure, 1772-73 4 William Hodges, HMS Resolution, 1772-75 5 Charles Clerke, HMS Resolution, 1772-75 5 James Burney, HMS Resolution, 1776-78 6 Thomas Edgar, HMS Discovery, 1776-78 6 Joseph Woodcock, King George, 1786-87 6 William Broughton, HMS Chatham, 1791-93 7 Philip Puget, HMS Chatham, 1793-95 8 Archibald Menzies, HMS Discovery, 1790-94 9 James Colnett, Rattler, 1793-94 9 George Peard, HMS Blossom, 1825-28 9 John Biscoe, Tula, 1830-33 10 John Price, Minerva, 1798-1800 Note: The following Pacific journals held in the British Library were also filmed by the Australian Joint Coping Project: M1557 Hernando Gallego, Los Reyes, 1567-69 M1558 Abel Tasman, Heemskerck and Zeehan, 1642-43 M1580-82 James Cook, HMS Endeavour and HMS Resolution, 1770-79 M1580-83 David Samwell, HMS Resolution and HMS Discovery, 1776-79 2 BRITISH LIBRARY Pacific journals and logs, 1664-1833 Reel M1559 Add. MS 8948 Journal of Bartholomew Verwey, 1664-67. (136 ff.) Journal (in Dutch) kept by Bartholomew Verwey, vice-commodore of a fleet of twelve ships, fitted out by the Governor and Council of the East Indies and sent in 1664, 1665, 1666 and 1667 to Formosa and the coasts of China .
    [Show full text]
  • Resolute: the Epic Search for the Northwest Passage and John Franklin, and the Discovery of the Queen's Ghost Ship, by Marti
    REVIEWS • 203 RESOLUTE: THE EPIC SEARCH FOR THE NORTH- Perhaps one of the worst errors can be found on p. 40, WEST PASSAGE AND JOHN FRANKLIN, AND THE where we are told that the most easterly point reached by DISCOVERY OF THE QUEEN’S GHOST SHIP. By Franklin in 1821, Turnagain Point on Kent Peninsula, was MARTIN W. SANDLER. New York: Sterling Publishing discovered by Captain James Cook and named by Captain Co. Inc., 2006. ISBN-13: 978-1-4027-4085-5. xix + George Vancouver! One can only surmise that Sandler was 299 p., maps, b&w and colour illus., bib., index. Hard- confusing this point with Turnagain Arm, near Anchorage, bound. US$24.95; Can$29.95. Alaska. Cook never penetrated even as far as Point Barrow, while Vancouver did not even reach Bering Strait. Martin Sandler has attempted a general history of the On p. 69, and frequently thereafter in discussing the search for the Northwest Passage and for the missing search for Franklin, Sandler refers to the “Arctic Council” Franklin expedition in what is now the Canadian Arctic as if it were some formal, decision-making body, function- over the period 1818–80. The inclusion of the word ing in parallel with the Lords Commissioners of the Admi- “Resolute” in the title indicates a particular focus on HMS ralty. As Ross (2004:140) has definitively stated, “no Resolute, one of the Royal Navy ships involved in the formal advisory body called the Arctic Council existed Franklin search. Resolute was abandoned by Captain Henry during the Franklin search.” The confusion has arisen from Kellett (on orders from Captain Sir Edward Belcher) in the the title that artist Stephen Pearce gave in 1851 to his spring of 1854 while beset in the ice off Cape Cockburn, composite portrait of the major figures involved in the the southwestern tip of Bathurst Island.
    [Show full text]
  • Limnology Monitoring Program for Mount Gordon Mine
    Wetland Biodiversity and Water Quality Surveys, Violetvale Station Brendan C. Ebner and James A. Donaldson Report No. 15/78 December 2015 Wetland Biodiversity and Water Quality Surveys, Violetvale Station A Report for Cape York NRM Report No. 15/78 December 2015 Prepared by Brendan C. Ebner and James A. Donaldson Centre for Tropical Water & Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER) James Cook University Townsville Phone : (07) 4781 4262 Email: [email protected] Web: www.jcu.edu.au/tropwater/ Information should be cited as: Ebner BC & Donaldson JA (2015), ‘Wetland Biodiversity and Water Quality Surveys, Violetvale Station’, Centre for Tropical Water & Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER) Publication 15/78, James Cook University, Cairns, 22 pp. For further information contact: Brendan Ebner Centre for Tropical Water & Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER) James Cook University [email protected] PO Box 780, 47 Maunds Road , Atherton QLD 4883 This publication has been compiled by the Centre for Tropical Water & Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER), James Cook University. © James Cook University, 2015. Except as permitted by the Copyright Act 1968, no part of the work may in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or any other means be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or be broadcast or transmitted without the prior written permission of TropWATER. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The copyright owner shall not be liable for technical or other errors or omissions contained herein. The reader/user accepts all risks and responsibility for losses, damages, costs and other consequences resulting directly or indirectly from using this information.
    [Show full text]
  • James Cook Info Sheet
    Library and Information Services Information sheet no 029 James Cook James Cook was born on 27 October 1728, at Marton in Cleveland. His education was basic and mainly self taught. At the age of twelve, he was bound as apprentice to the shopkeeper in Staithes, near Whitby. His apprenticeship did not last long when there was a disagreement between apprentice and master. In 1746, Cook took another apprenticeship in a Whitby shipping company involved with the east coast coal trade. Cook stayed with this firm for several years. Cook had a natural aptitude for mathematics and he quickly became a skilful navigator. In 1755, Cook’s ambitions outgrew the merchant navy, and although he was offered his first merchant command, he volunteered for the Royal Navy as an Able Seaman on board the HMS Eagle, under the command of Captain Hugh Palliser. Cook’s qualities quickly brought him advancement, and in July 1757 he was appointed as Master of HMS Pembroke, after only two years in the service. Cook’s efficiency was noted while surveying the St. Lawrence River; this survey played a decisive part in the capture of Quebec and the conquest of Canada. After the fall of Quebec in 1759, Cook was appointed Master of HMS Northumberland under the command of Captain Lord Coleville and was engaged in further survey work of the St Lawrence River, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland coasts. Cook arrived back in Britain in October 1762 and after a brief encounter, married Elizabeth Batts of Barking on 21 December. In April 1763, Cook was appointed by the Admiralty to survey the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador.
    [Show full text]
  • Download (373Kb)
    Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania, Volume 115, 1981 (ms. received 19.8.1980) THE �ATURAL HISTORY OBSERVATIONS AND COLLECT IONS MADE DURING FURNEAUX'S VISIT TO rASMAN IA (VAN DIEMAN'S LAND) IN 1773, WITH SPEC IAL REFERENCE TO BOTANY by E. Charles Nelson National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland ABSTRACT NELSON, E. Charles, 1981 (30 ix): The natural history observations and collections made during Furne aux' s visit to Tasmania (Van Diemen' s Land) in 1773 with special reference to botany. Pap. PY'oc. R. Soc. Tasm., 115, 77-84. https://doi.org/10.26749/rstpp.115.77 ISSN 0080-4703. National Botanical Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland. During the visit of H.M.S. ADVENTURE to Tasmania in March 1773 a number of animals and birds were caught or observed; several of the birds were later drawn. As well, Tobias Furneaux, captain of ADVENTURE, collected seeds of at least two plants, Eucalyptus obliqua and Leptospermum aon1,n"y,um and herbarium specimens of the latter, which were brought back to England. The seeds were germinated and plants were growing in London gardens in the late 1770's. The possible existence of other herbarium specimens is discussed, and the reasons for the small amount of scientific collection by ADVENTURE'S complement are discussed. INTRODUCTION A year after returning from his momentous first expedition, during which the eastern seaboard of Australia was explored, Capt. James Cook set sail again for the southern hemisphere. On 13 July 1772, H.M.S. RESOLUTION, under Cook's command, and H.M.S.
    [Show full text]
  • 89 with Captain James Cook in The
    REVIEW ARTICLES 89 With Captain James Cook in the Antarctic and Pacific: The Private Journal of James Bumey Second Lieutenant of the Adventure on Cook's Second Voyage 1772 1773. Edited and introduced by Beverley Hooper. National Library of Australia, Canberra, 1975, xi, 112 pp. Australian price: S10.50. BEVERLEY HOOPER makes no excessive claims for the contents of this admirably edited and beautifully produced book. If anything, she underestimates the value of the informal account which James Burney kept during his first Pacific voyage, apparently for the benefit of his family. True, the so-called private journal (the original is untitled) cannot compare in scope or authority with Cook's official record. Nor, as the editor remarks, is it as lively or as colourful as the journals of Burney's fellow officers, Clerke and Pickersgill. Yet it is of biographical interest as. I assume, the earliest extant piece of writing by the future historian of the Pacific; and here and there it provides information found nowhere else in the voluminous annals of the expedition. At any rate the present reviewer found it of sufficient importance for his ow n obscure purposes to transcribe the whole manuscript when it was still in the possession of its former owner, the late Sir John Ferguson. Burney, who had already spent half his twenty-two years at sea. was enrolled on the Resolution as an able seaman but had been given some assurance of promotion by his father's friend and patron Lord Sandwich. Hence, after leaving Plymouth in mid-July 1772, he served for some months on the crowded lower deck, an experience that yielded a specimen of the humour his editor finds regrettably lacking in the journal.
    [Show full text]
  • The Captain James Cook Birthday Oration
    The Captain Cook Oration by Bill Ranken Captain James Cook’s Birthday October 27, 1728 Gentlemen, Captain James Cook 27 October 1728 - 14 February 1779 50 years and 3 months. I am honoured, but humbled and inspired by the speakers who have preceded me. Thank you gentlemen for setting such a high bar! I am unqualified for the task. But it has been tremendous fun. I seek your indulgence in advance for the many speculations I am about to make. First I have for you a quick refresher course on life at sea Then my view of some of the factors which contributed to Cook’s career. During which certain ship’s rations will be distributed to those deemed worthy! Then I will finish with a quick review of Cook’s career To begin: Beaglehole, the eminent Cook historian asks, “What combination of factors, including the mingled blood of a lowland Scots labourer, and a Yorkshire village woman, went to produce that remarkable career…?”1 Cook forged his remarkable career on sailing ships. So, what was life like on board? Some details2: HMS Endeavor’s crew was 116 souls. She was just under 30 metres long and had a beam or width of 9 metres (0r 98 feet by 29 feet). Can you pause a second gentlemen… and imagine all 75 of us, plus another 46 men, to make the full crew of 116, all confined together in the club dining room for 2 or 3 years? [HMS Resolution had 165 souls; she was just under 4 metres longer.] 27% of HMS Endeavor’s crew died, vs 9% on HMS Resolution.
    [Show full text]